Chapter 17

           Strangetosay,inspiteofthegeneralforeboding,nothingofespecialmomenthappenedontheGhost.WeranontothenorthandwesttillweraisedthecoastofJapanandpickedupwiththegreatsealherd.ComingfromnomanknewwhereintheillimitablePacific,itwastravellingnorthonitsannualmigrationtotherookeriesofBeringSea.Andnorthwetravelledwithit,ravaginganddestroying,flingingthenakedcarcassestothesharkandsaltingdowntheskinssothattheymightlateradornthefairshouldersofthewomenofthecities.

           Itwaswantonslaughter,andallforwoman’ssake.Nomanateofthesealmeatortheoil.Afteragoodday’skillingIhaveseenourdeckscoveredwithhidesandbodies,slipperywithfatandblood,thescuppersrunningred;masts,ropes,andrailsspatteredwiththesanguinarycolour;andthemen,likebutchersplyingtheirtrade,nakedandredofarmandhand,hardatworkwithrippingandflensing-knives,removingtheskinsfromtheprettysea-creaturestheyhadkilled.

           Itwasmytasktotallythepeltsastheycameaboardfromtheboats,tooverseetheskinningandafterwardthecleansingofthedecksandbringingthingsship-shapeagain.Itwasnotpleasantwork.Mysoulandmystomachrevoltedatit;andyet,inaway,thishandlinganddirectingofmanymenwasgoodforme.ItdevelopedwhatlittleexecutiveabilityIpossessed,andIwasawareofatougheningorhardeningwhichIwasundergoingandwhichcouldnotbeanythingbutwholesomefor"Sissy"VanWeyden.

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